Bienville Parish, Louisiana
Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.
Bienville Parish, Louisiana has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 71% of US counties. It ranks 56th of 64 parishes in Louisiana. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, ice storms and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $5.7 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $437 per resident. Since 1977 it has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (18 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2026 (severe winter storm). Only 7 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $486,000 on 41 claims here.
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in Bienville Parish
- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Trim branches that hang over the roof or power lines.
- Plan for several days without power.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
All 18 hazards
What the ratings mean ›| Hazard | Rating | Score | Expected loss a year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | 25.1 | $2M | ||
| Ice storm | 95.4 | $1M | ||
| Tornado | 54.2 | $858K | ||
| Strong wind | 70.7 | $598K | ||
| Heat wave | 71.3 | $585K | ||
| Hurricane | 67.9 | $294K | ||
| Lightning | 49.0 | $136K | ||
| Hail | 41.5 | $114K | ||
| Earthquake | 42.3 | $106K | ||
| Cold wave | 12.4 | $69K | ||
| Drought | 43.6 | $56K | ||
| Winter weather | 25.2 | $14K | ||
| Wildfire | 21.4 | $5K | ||
| Landslide | 36.8 | $314 |
Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.
Federal disaster history
Recent disasters nationwide ›Declarations by decade
Federal declarations for natural events that included Bienville Parish. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.
By type
Most recent
Show all 33
Louisiana also had 9 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.
Storm history since 1950
Tornado risk by county ›The National Weather Service has logged 491 storm reports in Bienville Parish since 1950, with 1 death and 10 injuries and about $54.9 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F3 tornado on May 2, 1984.
Strongest tornadoes
| Date | Strength | Near | Hurt / killed |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 1984 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 3, 1992 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 12, 1950 | F3 | – | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 2018 | EF2 | Bear Creek | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 2000 | F2 | Castor | 0 / 0 |
Most damaging storms
| Date | Type | Near | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 1984 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Nov 3, 1992 | Tornado | – | $25M |
| Oct 14, 2009 | Flood | Gusta Pt | $2M |
| Feb 10, 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ringgold | $1M |
| Apr 5, 2005 | Tornado | Fryeburg | $300K |
| Feb 12, 1950 | Tornado | – | $250K |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 6, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane risk by county ›Since 1865, 1 hurricane and 17 tropical storms have passed within 65 miles of the center of Bienville Parish, 10 of them since 1950. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with top winds near 90 mph about 61 miles away.
Strongest storms nearby
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 90 mph | 61 mi |
| Jun 27, 1957 | Audrey | Tropical storm, 70 mph | 56 mi |
| Oct 13, 1886 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 55 mi |
| Aug 23, 1879 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 65 mph | 64 mi |
| Sep 10, 1965 | Betsy | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 55 mi |
| Sep 14, 1865 | Unnamed | Tropical storm, 60 mph | 58 mi |
Most recent storms
| Date | Storm | Strength | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2020 | Laura | Category 1, 90 mph | 61 mi |
| Jul 14, 2019 | Barry | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 63 mi |
| Jun 22, 2017 | Cindy | Tropical storm, 40 mph | 57 mi |
| Aug 30, 2012 | Isaac | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 59 mi |
| Sep 2, 2008 | Gustav | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 57 mi |
| Sep 24, 2005 | Rita | Tropical storm, 45 mph | 60 mi |
Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.
Flood insurance in Bienville Parish
Check your address flood zone ›National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.
Homes in Bienville Parish
Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 6,886 housing units.
Compare in Louisiana
All 64 ›| Largest counties | Overall risk | Top hazard |
|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge Parish | Inland flooding | |
| Jefferson Parish | Hurricane | |
| Orleans Parish | Hurricane | |
| St. Tammany Parish | Hurricane | |
| Lafayette Parish | Hurricane | |
| Caddo Parish | Inland flooding | |
| Calcasieu Parish | Hurricane | |
| Ouachita Parish | Inland flooding |
Neighboring counties
| County | Overall risk | Declarations |
|---|---|---|
| Bossier Parish | 33 | |
| Lincoln Parish | 32 | |
| Natchitoches Parish | 38 | |
| Webster Parish | 34 | |
| Jackson Parish | 25 | |
| Claiborne Parish | 32 | |
| Winn Parish | 30 | |
| Red River Parish | 30 |
Common questions about Bienville Parish
What is the biggest natural hazard in Bienville Parish?
Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Bienville Parish, about $1.8 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Ice storm is second at $1.1 million.
How many federal disasters has Bienville Parish had?
Bienville Parish has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1977, including 18 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm in February 2026.
Is Bienville Parish a high-risk place to live?
Its overall rating is Very Low, 56th highest of 64 in Louisiana. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.
Do I need flood insurance in Bienville Parish?
Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Bienville Parish has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.
How many tornadoes has Bienville Parish had?
NOAA records list 44 tornadoes in Bienville Parish since 1950. The strongest was an F3 tornado on May 2, 1984. The weather service has also logged 146 hail reports and 32 floods here.
How many hurricanes have hit Bienville Parish?
NOAA's hurricane records show 1 hurricane and 17 tropical storms passing within 65 miles of the center of Bienville Parish. The strongest was Hurricane Laura (2020), with winds near 90 mph.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole parish, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.